Download Meningitis and Septicaemia - Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS

Information for patients and visitors
Meningitis and Septicaemia
Children’s Services
Women & Children’s Services
The aim of this leaflet is to provide
parents and carers with all the
relevant information regarding
meningitis and meningococcal
septicaemia and to answer some
commonly asked questions.
Information for patients and visitors
What is Meningitis and
Septicaemia?
spots on the skin that does not disappear
when they are touched.
Meningitis is inflammation of the lining of the
brain. It can be caused by either bacteria or
a virus.
Symptoms of Meningitis
What is Bacterial Meningitis
The 2 main bacteria that cause Meningitis
are:
Meningococcus and Pneumococcus.
The symptoms of meningitis may be difficult
to identify, as initially they may be similar to
those of the flu. The symptoms may appear
in any order over 1-2 days or in a matter of
hours.
In babies and infants:

High temperature

Fever (possibly with cold hands and feet)

Vomiting and refusing feeds

High pitched moaning

Whimpering cry

Blank staring expression

Pale blotchy complexion

Floppiness
What is Viral Meningitis?

Dislike of being handled
This is less severe than bacterial meningitis
and cannot be treated with antibiotics. The
incubation period for viral meningitis can be
up to 3 weeks. Germs can be spread
through coughing, sneezing, poor hygiene or
sewage polluted water.

Fretful

Neck retraction with arching back

Convulsions

Difficult to wake

Lethargic and

Tense or bulging fontenelle (soft spot on
head)
These germs live naturally in the back of the
nose and throat in a percentage of people.
They can be passed on by coughing,
sneezing or kissing, but cannot live for long
outside the body. As the bacteria cannot live
long outside the body the bacteria cannot be
picked up from water supplies, swimming
pools, buildings or factories. The Incubation
for bacterial meningitis is between 2 and 10
days.
What is Septicaemia?
Septicaemia is another term for blood
poisoning. The bacteria that cause
meningococcal meningitis can also cause
septicaemia when it infects the blood.
Septicaemia is generally more life
threatening than Meningitis and can also be
caused by other germs.
Septicaemia can develop before meningitis,
or at the same time, and appears as pin prick
In older children:

High temperature

Vomiting

Extremely pale skin

Severe headache
Information for patients and visitors

Neck stiffness (unable to touch chin to
chest)

Aversion to bright lights

Sore throat

Drowsiness

Joint or muscle pains (leg pains)

Cold hands and feet

Fits

Confusion or disorientation
A rash can often be associated with
meningitis and septicaemia. The rash is
caused by blood leaking into the tissues
under the skin. It starts as tiny pinpricks
anywhere on the body and can spread
quickly to look like fresh bruises. This rash is
more difficult to see on darker skin.
Therefore look at the paler areas of the skin
and under the eyelids
The glass (tumbler test) can be used to
determine if a rash may be septicaemia. If a
rash does not fade under pressure when the
side of a clear drinking glass is pressed
firmly onto the rash or bruises then you
should suspect septicaemia. In a small
number of cases the rash may fade at first
but later may develop in to one that does not
fade.
Meningitis is very serious and can be a
life threatening condition particularly in
babies and young children. If you
suspect meningitis you must seek
medical assistance urgently, do not wait
for a rash to appear as it may appear later
or not at all.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of bacterial and viral meningitis is
made on the basis of your child’s symptoms
and their clinical signs.
If bacterial meningitis is suspected then a
sample of blood will be taken to test for any
bacteria that they may be present and your
child may also have a lumbar puncture
performed. A lumbar puncture is a
procedure in which a hollow needle is
inserted into the lower part of your child’s
spinal canal to take a sample of the fluid
(cerebral spinal fluid) that surrounds the
brain and the spinal cord.
If meningitis, either bacterial or viral, is
suspected, antibiotics must be given
immediately without waiting for confirmation
from the blood tests. If viral meningitis is
confirmed the antibiotics will be stopped.
Treatment
If your child has been diagnosed with viral
meningitis they will be treated with painkillers
to ease their headache and rest. Antibiotics
are not used in the treatment of viral
meningitis.
The treatment for bacterial meningitis and
septicaemia is outlined below:

Your child will be given antibiotics into
their veins, as this works quicker than
oral medicine. They may be given 1 or 2
antibiotics every 4-6 hours. After a few
days this will be reduced to every 6
hours

If your child has meningitis they may be
given steroids to help reduce the swelling
around the brain

They will be put on a drip until they are
able to take and tolerate fluids by mouth
themselves
Information for patients and visitors


Nursing staff will closely monitor our child
will check their temperature, pulse,
breathing rate and blood pressure
regularly
They will be kept in isolation in their own
cubicle for the first 48 hours of treatment
and anybody who comes into contact
with them should wash their hands
before leaving the cubicle

Your child may continue to have a
temperature for a few days, this can be
treated by nursing them in their nappy or
underwear and by giving paracetamol
suspensions such as Calpol

They may also continue to have a
headache and be irritable for a few days
as well as a dislike of bright lights. This
may also be treated with Calpol and they
may benefit from being nursed in a dark,
quite room. It may also help to restrict
visitors to close family members at first,
until they are feeling better

If your child is diagnosed with
meningococcal meningitis or septicaemia
then immediate family members will be
given an oral antibiotic for 2 days as a
precautionary measure
Some children’s condition may deteriorate
despite the treatment outlined above and
may require support such as ventilation or
transfer out to a larger unit. However this will
be discussed with you should the need arise.
How long will my child remain in
hospital?
The length of time your child has to stay in
hospital depends on how they respond to the
antibiotics they are been given and the
severity of the illness. Your child will remain
on antibiotics for a minimum of 5 days, but
this may be longer.
Benefits of treatment
As indicated above meningitis can be very
serious and therefore the sooner your child is
diagnosed, the greater benefit they will have
from receiving an early diagnosis, prompt
treatment and making a full recovery.
Complications
Most children will recover with no ill effects.
However it is possible that even with an early
diagnosis and prompt treatment there may
be short term side effects such as general
tiredness, persistent headaches, clumsiness,
stiff or sore joint, hearing loss, memory
problems or loss of sight. The possible long
term side effects though not common are
brain damage, fits and skin or tissue
damage. These complications will be
discussed with you in further detail should
the need arise.
Is there an alternative treatment?
At present there is not alternative treatment
for viral or bacterial meningitis.
Discharge arrangements
After your child is discharged they will be
reviewed by a Paediatric Consultant in an
Outpatient clinic. A hearing test is often
carried out approximately 6 weeks after
discharge and you will be sent an
appointment for this.
Your child can return to nursery or school
once they have made a full recovery, though
please note it may take some time for your
child to completely return to normal after
having meningitis.
If your child has had septicaemia only, they
might not need a follow up appointment in
the outpatient clinic or a hearing test, but this
will be discussed with you.
Information for patients and visitors
Additional Information
If you require any further information please
do not hesitate to ask your child’s nurse or
doctor. Alternatively you could seek advice
from your child’s GP or NHS 111 Service
You may also wish to obtain information
from:
National Meningitis Trust
Fern House
Bath Road
STROUD
Gloucestershire
GL5 3TJ
24 hour support line 0345 538118
24 hour information line 0891 715577
Meningitis and encephalitis: a guide for
parents and carers
http://www.brainandspine.org.uk
Meningitis Research Foundation
http://www.meningitis.org
Useful telephone numbers
Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital
Hospital Switchboard 01472 874111
Pre-Assessment Nurse 01472 874111 ext
1129/2547
If you have any concerns / queries about any
of the services offered by the Trust, in the
first instance, please speak to the person
providing your care.
For Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital
Alternatively you can contact the Patient
Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on
(01472) 875403 or at the PALS office which
is situated near the main entrance.
For Scunthorpe General Hospital
Alternatively you can contact the Patient
Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on
(01724) 290132 or at the PALS office which
situated on C Floor.
Alternatively you can email:
[email protected]
Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS
Foundation Trust
Diana Princess of Wales Hospital
Scartho Road
Grimsby
01472 874111
Scunthorpe General Hospital
Cliff Gardens
Scunthorpe
01724 282282
Scunthorpe General Hospital
Goole & District Hospital
Woodland Avenue
Goole
01405 720720
www.nlg.nhs.uk
Hospital Switchboard 01724 282282
Date of issue: November, 2015
Disney Ward 01724 290141 Option 1
Review Period: November, 2018
Community Nursing Team 01724 387942/
01724 282282 Ext 871316
Author: Children’s Services, Women &
Children’s Group
Rainforest Ward 01472 874111 ext 7520
Community Nursing Team 01472 874111
ext 7559
Concerns and Queries
IFP-348 v3.2
© NLGFT 2015